My best friend and her parents went away for 5 days and they tasked me with house sitting the farm. I am to feed chickens, cats, and relax in their hot tub. I was so excited when they asked. Living at home and saving money is great and all... but sharing a room with my sister and a fridge with my family, not so much. I was so looking forward to walking around in my bikini, doing face masks, playing the piano, and cooking by myself!
I locked up quickly after work, got in my car and turned up the radio; my giant bag of clothes in the back seat so I didn't have to stop at home before driving out there. It's going to be so nice! I pull into their driveway and see a little red car parked beside the house.
"Great." But no, it's fine. I'm sure whoever it is won't be here long. I've got the whole night and 4 days to myself. It's probably Sarah's brother. He's a life guard at the beach near here and stops by sometimes. So I walk in cautiously and yell "HIIIII." Hoping at least if he's brought a girl over they'll be warned and can get dressed or just tell me leave. "HEEEYY..."nothing.
I walk in and see someone outside on the deck. Sarah's brother Eric comes in holding barbeque tongs wearing nothing but a pair of tiny red swim trunks. Tall, blonde, sun kissed he stands there playfully swinging the tongs.
"Oh hey" he says. I usually avoid attention at all times but I'd definitely fake drowning and having everyone stare at me if it meant I got to touch those washboard abs and have his giant arms around me. I'm just stand/leaning there staring like an idiot in my work clothes without makeup on, buckling under the weight of my gym bag. PERFECT.
Before I can say anything his friend Mark comes in and introduces himself. We had met before but it was at least a year or two ago. I guess I'm not that memorable. I interrupted their romantic dinner of corn on the cob and burgers.
"Did you want any? I made some extra." Eric said as he leaned against the railing, glistening in the sun swinging the tongs.
I lied and said "Thanks, I just ate. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Interrupt what?" Mark chimed in laughing. It's not like we're having a romantic date here! Wait... are we?" Eric gives him a glare and then starts making kissy lips at him. Mark flips his hair dramatically and starts batting his eye lashes. They both burst out laughing and mark continues "Eric wasn't able to score a hot date tonight. I'm his second choice." He grins over at me and winks.
"Are you two love birds staying over tonight?" I asked them.
"No we just thought we'd have dinner here and hot tub for a bit. You?" Eric said.
"Yes I am. I was actually going to go to the beach for a bit. I just wanted to drop my stuff off and change first." I told him. He nods and wanders back over to the grill.
With his gaze finally off me I gather myself and walk back inside and drop my bag on the loveseat in the kitchen. Mark comes in and grabs some salad and toppings for his burger. "You want some arugula? It's all the rage right now. I love me some arugula." I shake my head no. "Look, why don't you just stay and have some burgers with us." Mark looks at me eyes wide and glancing towards deck.
"Because I just ate..."
He rolls his eyes and sighs "I'm probably not supposed to say anything but Eric's had a rough go of things. We had someone drown earlier this week and he's still really broken up about that last girl he dated. I think he wanted to hang out at home and be around his family but of course they're away. I've been keeping him occupied but I have to spend time with my family too before I go back to school. Ask him to stay tonight?"
I look at him blankly. "I don't know him Mark. Sure I've seen him a couple times during the holidays but as far as I know we have nothing in common and he's barely said a few words to me." From what Sarah's told me he's this super smart med student that barely ever visits and works as a lifeguard during the summer. I just imagined him as being this stuck up smart ass.
Mark winks and me, raises his hands and shrugs. "I'm just saying, and you're more than welcome to hang around. He could use the distraction."
Mark takes his plate and walks back outside letting out a large belch. Ughh boys. I rush over to the bathroom with my bag of stuff and shut the door. Jeeze. Not exactly how I planned my night. It's fine. I'm off to the beach. I find my bathing suit and change into that, putting on a lace cover up and some jean shorts. I pull my long blonde hair out of the ponytail and brush it out, put a little mascara on. Which was probably a bad idea considering I'm going to the beach and in the hot tub later; too late now!
I'm driving back from the beach with a full belly of poutine and soda. It's gotten darker and as I pull into the laneway there's no sign of Eric's car. I walk up to the door and punch in the code. Lights off and a locked door means they must've left for the night. Satisfied, I lock up and turn on the lights. I change into my PJ shorts, my workout bra, and put my hair back up into a ponytail. I'm too full now but I figure maybe later I'll work out a bit and get rid of some of those carbs I just inhaled. I sprawl out on the couch and start flipping through Netflix.
I wake up restless and warm about an hour later. It's only been a few hours and I'm already bored. My mind starts wandering to earlier today. Seeing Eric in his tiny swim trunks playfully swinging the tongs around makes me throb. He's so cute, and quiet it makes him seem mysterious. I also wonder what he's thinking about. I remove my PJ shorts getting warmer by the second. Nobody is home. This is what I'm here for anyway; alone time. I can't walk around in my thong at home. I put on some cop show and sprawl out on the couch propping my head up on one of the pillows. It's gotten dark out. I watch as moths buzz around the solar lights on the deck as I dose off...
I'm back at the beach lying in the warm afternoon sun wearing my cute little black bikini. It's pretty quiet except for a few joggers and a group of guys with a Frisbee. Most people have gone back to their cottages or are sitting on the beach patio eating. Starting to feel my back burn I sit up and take a drink of my water bottle. Next thing I know I'm lying there with a pounding headache. I slowly open my eyes to find Eric kneeling over me with a concerned look on his face.
As soon as we make eye contact a huge smile spreads across his face. "You okay? You were out for a minute there. Careful! You might have a concussion." He helps me sit up slowly and I touch the very tender goose egg forming on the back of my head. "You got hit with the Frisbee." Well of course I did, those idiots.